Praise the Lord, O ye, his servants

Praise the Lord, O ye His servants,Praise the Name of the Lord:We praise Thee, we hymn Thee, we bless TheeFor Thy great glory.O Lord the King, the Father of Christ, the Lamb without blemish,Who taketh away the sin of the world,To Thee belongeth praise, to Thee belongeth the hymn, to Thee belongeth glory,The Father, and … Read more

Wake, wake, I pray thee, shrill-toned lyre!

Wake, wake, I pray thee, shrill-toned lyre! No more to fan the Teïan88Anacreon was of Teos. fire, No more the Lesbian99Sappho of Lesbos. strain to raise, Wake, wake to hymn of nobler praise! Sound Dorian1010The Dorian dialect was generally used for graver and sublimer subjects. ode, in other guise, Than once to maid with laughing … Read more

In Bethlehem is He Born

In Bethlehem is He born, Maker of all things, everlasting GOD! He opens Eden’s gate, Monarch of Ages! Thence the fiery sword Gives glorious passage; thence That severing mid-wall overthrown, the Powers Of earth and Heav’n are one: Angels and men renew their ancient league, The pure rejoin the pure In happy union! Now the … Read more

O the Mystery, Passing Wonder

O the mystery, passing wonder, When, reclining at the board, “Eat,” Thou saidst to Thy Disciples, “That True Bread with quickening stored: “Drink in faith the healing Chalice “From a dying GOD outpoured.” Then the glorious upper chamber A celestial tent was made, When the bloodless rite was offered, And the soul’s true service paid, … Read more

Stand on Thy Watch-tower, Habakkuk the Seer

Stand on thy watch-tower, Habakkuk the Seer, And show the Angel, radiant in his light: ‘Today,’ saith he, ‘Salvation shall appear, ‘Because the LORD hath ris’n, as GOD of Might.’ The male that opes the Virgin’s womb is He; The Lamb of Whom His faithful people eat; Our truer Passover from blemish free; Our very … Read more

Who From the Fiery Furnace Saved the Three

Who from the fiery furnace saved the Three, Suffers as mortal; that, His Passion o’er, This mortal, triumphing o’er death, might be Vested with immortality once more: He Whom our fathers still confest GOD over all, for ever blest. The women with their ointment seek the Tomb: And Whom they mourned as dead, with many … Read more

The Last Kiss

Take the last kiss,—the last for ever! Yet render thanks amidst your gloom: He, severed from his home and kindred, Is passing onwards to the tomb: For earthly labours, earthly pleasures, And carnal joys, he cares no more: Where are his kinsfolk and acquaintance? They stand upon another shore. Let us say, around him pressed, … Read more

Father of Peace, and God of Consolation

Father of Peace, and GOD of Consolation! The Angel of the Counsel dost Thou send To herald peace, to manifest Salvation, Thy Light to pour, Thy knowledge to extend; Whence, with the morning’s earliest rays, Lover of men! Thy Name we praise. ’Midst Caesar’s subjects Thou, at his decreeing, Obey’dst and was enrolled: our mortal … Read more

As Jonah, Issuing from His Three Days’ Tomb

As Jonah, issuing from his three days’ tomb, At length was cast, uninjured, on the earth; So, from the Virgin’s unpolluted womb The Incarnate WORD, That dwelt there, had His Birth: For He, Who knew no taint of mortal stain, Willed that His Mother spotless should remain. CHRIST comes, Incarnate GOD, amongst us now, Begotten … Read more

The Holy Children Boldly Stand

The Holy Children boldly stand Against the tyrant’s fierce command: The kindled furnace they defy,— No doom can shake their constancy: They in the midmost flame confessed, “GOD of our Fathers! Thou art blest!” The Shepherds keep their flocks by night; The Heav’n glows out with wondrous light; The glory of the LORD is there, … Read more

O Wondrous Mystery, Full of Passing Grace

O wondrous mystery, full of passing grace! The grot becometh Heav’n: the Virgin’s breast The bright Cherubic Throne: the stall that place, Where He, Who fills all space, vouchsafes to rest: CHRIST our GOD, to Whom we raise Hymns of thankfulness and praise! The course propitious of the unknown Star The Wise-men followed on its … Read more

God Comes, and Who Shall Stand Before His Fear?

GOD comes;—and who shall stand before His fear? Who bide His Presence, when He draweth near? My soul, my soul, prepare To kneel before Him there! Haste,—weep,—be reconciled to Him before The fearful judgment knocketh at the door Where, in the judge’s eyes, All bare and naked lies. Have mercy, LORD, have mercy, LORD, I … Read more

The Lord Draws Nigh, the Righteous Throne’s Assessor

The LORD draws nigh, the righteous Throne’s Assessor, The just to save, to punish the transgressor: Weep we, and mourn, and pray, Regardful of that day; When all the secrets of all hearts shall be Lit with the blaze of full eternity. Clouds and thick darkness o’er the Mount assembling, Moses beheld the Eternal’s glory, … Read more

The Cross (Methodius I): Are thy toils and woes increasing?

Are thy toils and woes increasing? Are the Foe’s attacks unceasing? Look with Faith unclouded, Gaze with eyes unshrouded, On the Cross! Dost thou fear that strictest trial? Tremblest thou at CHRIST’s denial? Never rest without it, Clasp thine hands about it, —That dear Cross. Diabolic legions press thee? Thoughts and works of sin distress … Read more

Exalt, Exalt, the Heavenly Gates

“Exalt, exalt, the Heavenly Gates, Ye chiefs of mighty name! The Lord and King of all things waits, Enrobed in earthly frame.” So to the higher seats they cry, The humbler legions of the sky. For Adam’s sake, by Serpent-guile Distressed, deceived, o’erthrown, Thou left’st Thy native Home awhile, Thou left’st the FATHER’s Throne: Now … Read more